Plans would strip Stapleford chapel of its status

A chapel in Stapleford could lose its listed status so changes can be made in order for a project aimed at combatting loneliness to be held there.

Stapleford Chapel is one of 15 listed buildings in Stapleford.

Broxtowe Borough Council have applied for listed building consent so that changed can be made, including the removals of the pews. It would enable the ‘Men in Sheds’ project to move from its current location at The Maycliffe Hall into either the former chapel or the mortuary.

The chapel was used just ten times in 2014 and is on Nottinghamshire County Council’s at risk register. It has also been the target of vandals in recent years.

A heritage impact statement by the borough council states: “The council does not support the use of this site as a cemetery chapel again.

“The council is presently running a similar site at Beeston Cemetery which is the last cemetery chapel in use as it was intended in the borough. It is not commercially viable to reopen it for burials.

“The council now has a chance to utilise the chapel for the benefit of the community in the form of a social club for retired men as part of the combat loneliness scheme.”

However, a petition against the plans has been started by Adam Stockwell from the town.

He said: “Whilst I agree that Men in Sheds is a great project and I agree there is a need for this project to expand what I don’t agree with is the council’s plans to move it to the chapel.

“Maybe Broxtowe Borough Council could move the project into the former Stapleford Police Station which would be much more suitable.”

The council says the site is the only vacant site under council ownership in the south of he borough.